Firing mechanism for firearms



Aug. 3, 1954 T. M. BRAY, JR, ET AL 2, I FIRING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed May 16, 1950 I N V EN TORS Theodor M Bray, -Tr.

Elf-Richard H Wep'cks e l Patented Aug. 3, 1954 FIRING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Theodore M. Bray, Jr., and Richard H. Weichsel,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to improvements in the hammer actions thereof.

According to prior practice, the spring-urged hammer of a pistol or similar firearm has been held in cocked position by suitable cam arrangements so that when the trigger actuate-s a cam, the hammer will be released for its firing stroke.

The present invention involves a distinct departure from all prior practices, so far as is known, in the respect that the hammer is controlled by frictional engagement of a surface of the hammer with a brake element as the hammer moves to cocked position while the trigger releases the frictional engagement between the hammer and brake element on the firing stroke so as to permit the hammer to detonate a shell.

In its primary aspect, the present invention contemplates a hammer action including a brake drum or its equivalent adapted to be frictionally K engaged by a brake band so that when the hammer is moved to cock-ed position, it will be frictionally held in a poised position, until trigger releases the brake band.

An important object of the invention is to provide a silent, smooth acting hamme action having a minimum number of parts affording silent and. positive operation Which is particular- 1y advantageous in match play, thereby rendering the firearm particularly useful as a so-called free pistol that term is used in expert marksmanship matches in which no restriction placed on the design of firearm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a target pistol which. is highly simplified, compact, sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in. which like numerals are employed to designate like parts through the same:

Figure l is a side elevational View of a target pistol embodying our invention, part broken away and parts removed for the purpose of clarity and simplification;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the pistol illustrated by Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View, partly diagrammatic, of the hammer action removed, the hammer being shown in the cooked position;

Figure l is a transverse, vertical section taken on the line 5-6 of Figure l.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of our invention, attention is directed first to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, wherein the numeral 20 designates generally a single-shot, breech loading target or free pistol. The pistol 2% comprises a grip or stock 2 i, body or frame 22, and barrel 23, pivotally secured to the forward end of the frame at 23', and extending forwardly thereof in the usual manner. The frame 22 is provided at its rear end and top with a narrow opening or vertical slot forming a chamber 2d for the reception of firing mechanism. The grip or stock 2| has an internal cavity or chamber 25 leading into the chamber is at the top of the stock, as shown.

A fixed, transverse pivot pin 25 is provided, and located centrally in the chamber 2 and extending transversely therethrough, and having its ends secured within openings formed in the opposite sides of the frame 22. A fiat, substantial- 1y circular brake drum 2? is mounted within the chamber 2 3 for rotation, and has a central transverse opening 25 rotatably receiving the pivot pin 26, the said brake drum being carried by the pivot pin 25. The drum 2'! has an upstanding substantially radial arm or extension 29, integral therewith and shaped at its upper or outer end to form a hammer 3%. The hammer 3b is arranged rearwardly of a firing pin chamber 3|, disposed adjacent to the rear or breech end of the barrel 23, and the hammer projects the firing pin within the chamber 3! for exploding the cartridge in the usual manner. W hen the arm 29 and hammer are swung rearwardly to the cooked position, Figure the arm 29 swings through the vertical slot formin the chamber 24.

A circularly curved resilient brake band 32 formed of mild steel or the like has one end 33 pivotally secured to a transverse pin 34, spaced above and slightly forwardly of the pin 26. The pin 34 extends transversely through the chamber 25 and has its ends anchored in the opposite sides of the frame 22. The brake drum 2? and the brake band 32 are preferably formed of mild steel, or any other combination of materials which have a high co-efiicient of friction. The brake band 3i: extends about the major portion of the circumference of the drum 2? and is adapted to frictionally engage the periphery of the disc to releasaoiy hold the in the selected adjusted position. The brake band 32 is disposed entirely within the chamber 2 and the free end of the brake band remote from the pivot pin 34 terminates below and rearwardly of the radial arm and is provided with an enlargement or head 35 forming a notch 36. The end of the 3 brake band having the head 35 is free from connection with the frame 22.

A generally arcuate longitudinally extending elongated brake lever or link 31 is provided and extends about the lower portion or side of the brake band 32 below the notch 36, as shown. The lever or link 31 is pivotally secured near its forward. end to a transverse pin 38 which extends through the chamber 24 and has its ends anchored in the opposite sides of the pistol frame 22. The lever 31 is bodily mounted within the chamber 24 and has a forward longitudinal extension or trip 39 arranged forwardly of the pin 38 for co-action with an upper lateral shoulder 45 of a depending trigger 4|, having its top end pivotally secured at 42, within a bottom opening or slot 43 formed in the bottom of the frame 22, and leading from the forward side of the chamber 24. The rear portion of the lever or link 31 is upwardly directed at the rear side of the disc 21, for forming an upstanding tapered extension or pin 4G for engagement in the notch 36 of the brake band, the extension 44 being provided at its bottom end with a substantially horizontal shoulder 45.

A first or forward inclined upstanding telescopic rod 46 is provided, and includes upper and lower telescoping rod sections 41 and 4B, the lower rod section 48 having its bottom end pivotally connected as at 49 to the bottom of the stock or grip 2|, so that the telescopic rod 46 may swing vertically within the cavity 25 of the grip. The upper rod section 41 is provided at its top end with a tapered head or pin 50, having its top end bearing against the shoulder 45 of the lever 31. A strong, compressible coil spring surrounds the telescopic rod 46 between the lower end of the pin 55 and a lower adjusting nut 5| mounted upon a screw-threaded portion of the lower rod section 48. The nut 5| serves to adjust or vary the tension of the spring 5|, and the spring urges the pin 59 into constant engagement with the brake lever 31 for forcing the extension 44 into the notch 36, to clamp a brake band 32 tightly about the periphery of the disc 21.

A second or rear upstanding, inclined telescopic rod 52 is provided, and disposed within the cavity 25 rearwardly of the rod 46. The telescopic rod 52 comprises upper and lower rod sections 53 and 54, the lower rod section having its bottom end pivotally secured as at 55 to the bottom of the grip 2| so that the rod 52 may swing vertically within the cavity 25. The upper rod section 53 extends above the top of the grip 2| and through the slot forming the chamber 24, and the top end of the rod section 53 engages in a notch 55 formed in the rear side of the hammer 39 at the top of the extension 29. The upper rod section 53 is spaced rearwardly of the brake band and lever 31, as shown. A compressible coil spring 51 surrounds the telescopic rod 52 between a bottom fixed head or shoulder 58 and an upper spring tension adjusting nut 59, which is mounted upon a screw-threaded portion of the upper rod section 53. The spring 51 is weaker than the brake spring 5| and serves to resiliently urge the upper rod section 53 upwardly for swinging the hammer 38 forwardly toward the cartridge chamber 3| for firing the cartridge.

The operation of the target pistol is as follows:

A single cartridge is placed in the cartridge chamber 3|, and the hammer 30 is pulled rearwardly to the cocked position, Figure 3. The rod 52 telescopes or shortens itself and swings rearwardly within the cavity 25. The rearward movement of the hammer 30 is limited through the contact of the nut 59 with the top end of the lower rod section 54. During all of this time, the strong spring 5| constantly urges the lever extension 44 into the notch 36 for clamping the brake band 32 about the disc 21. The hammer 39 will remain in the cocked position when released, it being frictionally held at all times by the brake band. The arrangement is such that the springs 5| and 51 work in opposition, the spring 5| and brake band holding the hammer against movement, while the spring 51 simultaneously urges the hammer forwardly toward the firing position. It should. be noted, however, that the force of the spring 51 actually assists the spring 5| in holding the hammer in the cooked position. This is true because the brake spring 5| causes the brake band to wrap around or embrace the disc 21, while the spring 51 simultaneously urges the brake disc 21 to turn counterclockwise, Figure l, thus tending to further constrict the brake band and increase the friction between the same and the disc 21. The spring 5| is considerably stronger than the spring 51, as previously stated.

The pistol is aimed and the trigger 4| pulled for elevating the forward extension or trip 39 and lowering the rear extension 44. As soon as the extension 44 moves downwardly an almost infinitesimal amount, the friction between the brake band and disc 21 is overcome by the firing spring 51, and the telescopic rod 52 is extended and forces the hammer 30 forwardly to the firing position, Figure 1. The speed and force of the hammer 39 may be regulated by adjusting the nut 59 to vary the tension of the spr'mg 5'1. With this arrangement, the marksman can fire the target pistol with heretofore unheard of ease, and the hammer action is completely silent until the firing pin strikes the cartridge cap. The usual jump or jar caused by conventional cam 01' scaroperated hammer action is completely absent, and the effort required to pull the trigger 4| can be reduced to substantially nothing through adjustment of the tension in the spring 5|. If it is desired to provide the trigger with more resistance to pull, this may also be done by increasing the tension in the spring 5| by means of the ad justing nut 5|. In any case, the trigger moves only a very small distance to release the hammer which better enables the arm to be held perfectly stationary until the firing cycle is completed.

t is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in material, shape, size and arrangement of parts be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. In a firearm, a support, a brake element pivotally mounted upon the support and including a hammer portion, brake band connected with the support and extending about the brake element and shiftable into and out of engagement with the brake element, resilient means connected with the brake band and urging it into engagement with the brake element, resilient means connected with the brake element for urging the hammer portion toward the firing posi tion, and trigger means connected with the firstnamed resilient means and opposing such resilient means and operable to allow disengagement of the brake band and element.

2. In a target pistol, a frame. a substantially circular brake disc pivotally mounted upon the frame and including a hammer extension, a brake band connected with the frame and extending about the brake disc and having a free end shiftable into and out of engagement with the brake disc, resilient means connected with the brake band for urging it into engagement with the brake disc, separate resilient means connected with the brake disc for urging the hammer extension toward the firing position, and trigger means connected with the firstnamed resilient means and opposing such resilient means to permit disengagement of the brake band and brake disc.

3. A hammer action for firearms, comprising, a body, an annular member having a peripheral braking surface, means for pivotally supporting said annular member upon the body, a hammer connected with the annular member and projecting generally radially from said member, a brake 20 band surrounding the annular member and having one end pivotally connected with the body,

6 the other end of the brake band being freely disposed. and shiftable toward and away from the peripheral braking surface of the annular member, whereby when the hammer is moved to cocked position it will be held poised by the frictional engagement of the brake band and annular member, and trigger actuated means connected with the free end of the brake band for releasing the brake band from engagement with the annular member when the trigger is pulled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,462,585 Wesson Feb. 22, 1949 2,474,180 Browning June 21, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 49,281 Austria Aug. 10, 1911 549,087 France Nov. 9, 1922 

